Microsoft's Window of Opportunity is now but will they take advantage of it?

I think everyone including Microsoft would agree that they have failed when it comes to the hand held market.  Windows Mobile always felt like a severely stripped down version of the desktop OS, and perhaps that was there intent, but it really just didn't work for the masses.    Rim did a great job at of integrating the Phone and Messaging, and has held the position for years, until Apple came out with the iPhone.    Not that I am a huge fan of the iPhone, but it truly did cause a shift in the mobile OS world.

Now that a little time has passed since the iPhone, we have seen Microsoft's Windows Mobile is gone from the market and Nokia is not a player in the U.S. market at the moment.  But Android is everywhere...   Android a small mobile OS purchased by Google has and is taking the market by storm.   It has been a game changer, and has every one's attention to say the least.    Take a look the Moto Atrix which is on the AT&T network.  This design shows Microsoft's window of opportunity.

If Microsoft can provide a stable platform which would allow the user to bring there "desktop" in their pocket they will once again capture the market.  If you look at the Atrix, a phone which docs and turns into a laptop, that is brilliant.  Yes it can open word docs, excel, power point presentations, but only in a limited fashion.   It cannot interact with a host of other business applications.   Windows Phone 7 is a nice phone by today's standards, but it is a little late to the party.   Make this phone where I can use it for business, with real security. 

Here is the winning recipe.

• AD integration
• Ability to dock and turn into laptop
• Fun

That is all that they need to do, in my humble opinion of course. 


What are your thoughts..........